The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-11
THE MINISTER'S STORY.

NowI will tell you little Of my story,
and then I will try to give you slight
idea of the discourse our pastor gave us
that Friday evening have been allud-
ing to.
I was tired and discouraged and very
cross, Though I didn't mean to be the
last, and tried hard not to appear so. The
children had been fretful all day. My
one servant had been ill for week, and
had my own homework to do. The
fire had smoked, the irons had stuck to
my starch, my pudding was spoiled in
the baking, and my husband had made
wry face when he tasted it, and pushed
back his plate with an expression which
said quite as plainly as words, "What I'M
pardonsble carelessnessP'
I was hurt and mortified and angry.
wanted to tell him that l remembered
the time when he would have praised a
worse pudding that this and asked for
second supply. But swallowed the Bit
ter words with the briny tears, and look
ed like a stone, I suppose. A woman
must protect herself some way at such
times, and I was too proud to make
fuss. How many wives, wonder have
been accused of sullenness and il-tem-
per when all the time it was nothing but
the crying out Of the heart for a kind
word and the demonstrations OF affection
and appreciation that once were so COM
mon?
"What in the world is the matter with
your John asked when he was about
half through his supper.
"Tired," said L.
"You had better go to bed and get
rested" he answered; and that was every
word he uttered.
A little later my sister came in and Of
fered to stay with the children while my
husband and I went to Friday evening
meeting. John said he didn't care about
going, and went out for a walk. I was
too weary and sore-hearted to know what
was good for me, but my sister gently
persuaded me to try and rest myself that
way, and I at last consented. / was al
most sorry I had gone, the first part Of
the evening, for the hymns usually 80
helpful and soothing had contrary ef-
feet, and the prayers did not touch me at
all. Now, our minister was man wise
in his generation, and possessed the rare
faculty of hitting everybody's case in
these impromptu discourses, and 1 won-
dered as 1 watched him make ready to
speak, il there would be one comforting,
helpful word for me. I wish 1 could give
you this talk as it fell from his lips, but
that, of course, is impossible.
He began by saying that one Of the
most difficult things in life was to realize
our dependence upon each other. In
great crises this seemed easy enough.
At such times we drew near to our friends
and leaned upon them until we found
strength TO carry the new burden. Death
and disaster draw husband and wife, rel
alive and friend, nearer together. But
how different the effect of the ordinary
events Of life the small everyday fric-
tions and jars that are part of the con-
stitution and development of every fsmi-
lyl How common and how sad to see
husbands and wives growing steadily
apart under the influence OF these wor-
ries, which, if taken hold OF together,
would lose most of their power to hurt
and in many instances prove the great
est of blessingsl
81 have in my mind" he said "a lovely
young woman, whom have known from
a child, and whom 1 married to young
man of irreproachable morals and noble